Secondary Navigation

News Page

News

Next Year in Jerusalem

Friday, August 26, 2016

Colonials defenseman Eric Israel will play for USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games.

Robert Morris University men's hockey defenseman Eric Israel has been named to the preliminary roster for the Maccabi USA Open Men's Ice Hockey team for the 20th Maccabiah Games, held in July 2017. The Maccabiah Games are an international gathering of thousands of Jewish athletes that takes place in Israel.

Israel, a sophomore from Huntington Woods, Michigan, played in 34 of the Colonials 39 games during his freshman year. Israel scored 2 goals and recorded 9 assists for 11 points in his first season. Israel blocked 63 shots, tied for 47th overall in the NCAA, fourth in Atlantic Hockey and tied for second among the Colonials.

Israel was named the Colonials freshman of the year and honored on the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic team.

"My brother and sister both took birthright trips to Israel and they loved it," says the sophomore defenseman.

"I could never find the time with training and hockey to make time to go," says Israel. "Once I found out about the Maccabiah Games, I knew it was something that I wanted to do."

Israel will join 2016 RMU alumnus David Friedmann as a participant at the Maccabiah Games. Friedmann was a forward for Canada's team in 2013.

The Maccabiah Games are the world's largest Jewish Athletic Competition that takes place every four years in Israel, the first games were held in 1932. Maccabi USA is a federally-recognized, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games in Israel and other Maccabi competitions around the world. Maccabi USA supports Jewish Athletic endeavors enhanced by cultural and educational opportunities at home, in Israel and throughout the Diaspora.